Jumping for Obesity Medicine

Integrating Nutrition and Obesity Medicine Throughout Internal Medicine Residency Training

Oksana Karpov, DO, might be one of the most energetic program directors that you’ll have the pleasure of meeting. Her passion for Nutritional and Obesity Medicine not only shows on paper with her multiple certifications, but quite literally had her jumping out of her seat. It was a pleasure to interview Dr. Karpov to learn more about her journey, Nutritional and Obesity Medicine, and the unique opportunities at the Indiana University Southwest Internal Medicine Residency Program. Did I mention that she is also a certified personal trainer?

Dr. Karpov was born in Ukraine and moved to Pennsylvania at fifteen. She went on to complete her bachelor’s degree at the University of Pittsburgh and completed her medical education at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. She stayed connected to her alma mater and eventually earned her Ph.D. in Graduate Medical Education as well.

After spending years toughing the snowy winters of Pennsylvania, Dr. Karpov moved to Miami, where she worked in private practice. During this time, she stayed connected to academic medicine and continued to train medical students. However, her love for academic medicine demanded even more, and she soon found her way to Southwest Indiana Internal Medicine Residency Program as program director.

Obesity Medicine

As a certified personal trainer, Dr. Karpov takes lifelong learning to heart. Additionally, certified in Functional Medicine and Nutrition, she has created and taught her own curriculum on Obesity and Nutrition.

Obesity Medicine has recently become a more structured and popular field of study. However, when Dr. Karpov began learning about it in 2010, it mainly consisted of interested physicians teaching and learning from other interested physicians. To emphasize the progress that has been made since then, she tells me that Nutritional Medicine is in the process of becoming a mandatory part of every medical school education. This echoes a sentiment that many medical students have been asking for, not to mention, knowledge that will be extremely uplifting for all patients.

I soon realized that Obesity Medicine and Nutrition is something that Dr. Karpov could talk about for hours. We took a segway to talk about Evansville, but as soon as I asked for a book recommendation, she jumped out of her chair and was across the room to pick up “Clinical Management of Obesity” by Dr. Caroline Apovian—a must-read for all medical students. She is so passionate about the field that she has multiple copies and graciously offers them to others.

Southern Indiana and the Residency Program

I wanted to learn more about the Southwest Internal Medicine Residency Program since I first heard about it last year. A predominantly outpatient-based Internal Medicine residency, it is located uniquely on the Indiana-Kentucky border. Patients come from multiple states and are seen mainly at either Deaconess Gateway Hospital in Newburgh or Good Samaritan Vincennes. This gives residents and rotating medical students the opportunity to experience both rural and suburban medicine. The faculty across both sites meet daily to ensure that they are providing the best care and the best learning experience.

I concluded the interview by asking if Dr. Karpov had any advice for medical students. She advises fourth-year medical students to actively interview each residency program, rather than just being interviewed. She enthusiastically described how you should ask questions to everyone. Ask questions to the program directors, the faculty, everyone! She adds that students should make sure they “feel at home” at the program that they decide on, and that exposure to different opportunities is very important.

About the Author

Faraz Syed is a third-year osteopathic medical student at the Marian University Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine. Faraz has a love for teaching and enjoys enabling the success of those around him. This led him to found the Teaching Opportunities and Possibilities (TOP) club at MU-WCOM. Outside of the hospital, he enjoys spending time with his family and volunteering at local free healthcare clinics. Feel free to email him at fsyed231@marian.edu.

About Franc Notes

Discover the voices of Marian University's health professions students through "Franc Notes", a vibrant, student-led blog that embodies our Franciscan commitment to community, reflection, and compassionate service. Inspired by the rhythm of "SOAP notes," it features weekly insights—from "DO Diaries" interviews with physicians to summer reflections and program spotlights—fostering collaboration across disciplines."